There is no blame to be accepted by the Ministry of Sport and its distributive arm the Sport Company of T&T for the performances of the athletes at the just concluded Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Both entities have put their money where their mouth is and they’re now asking all to refocus on the Olympic Games in Paris, France in three years.

At a press briefing to give an overview on the Olympic at the TTT compound at Maraval Road, Port-of-Spain on Friday, a team of Chef de Mission Lovie Santana, Douglas Camacho, Jason Williams, the chief executive (CEO) officer at SporTT, athlete Anduelle Wright and Minister of Sport and Community Development- Shamfa Cudjoe called for total support for the team moving forward.

The team comprised 33 athletes, 18 of whom are first-time Olympians. Of the 33 athletes, 60 per cent of them are under the age of 25 years, said Arnette Knott, Secretary-General of the TTOC.

The athletes, particularly the country’s 4×400 metres relay team attempted to replicate or better the performance of the country’s 4×400 metres relay team of Wendell Mottley, Edwin Skinner, Ed Roberts and Kent Bernard in the 1964 Olympics at the same Tokyo Stadium.

Fortune, however, did not follow the T&T team, as team TTO, for the first time in six Olympic cycles, returned home empty-handed. Knott reminded all of the incredible performances displayed, however, particularly Michelle Lee Ahye in the 100 metres semis where she was just edged out; the country’s cycling duo of Nicholas Paul and Kwesi Browne, who both qualified for the semifinals of the keirin; Paul who advanced to the quarterfinals of the match-sprint; the country’s 4×400 metres relay team which finished eighth in the final; and Jereem Richards who sealed a place in the 200 metres.

Knott said there is so much to take away from the games, rather than the criticisms.

Team TTO became the subject of criticism from all quarters of the public for its inability to return home with no medals. Among the critics was former national sprinter Ato Boldon who believes that not enough was being done by the parent National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAAs).

Cudjoe said while they could not have afforded what countries such as England put out financially on their athletes, she and her administration made sure that the athletes were prepared: “One of the objectives of the Sporting Policy 2017- 2027 is to ensure that National Governing Bodies (NGBs), athletes and the members of the sporting fraternity had access to funds in order to ensure their success and the development of the different sporting disciplines. Financial support remains accessible to eligible athletes through our general grant funding programme, through the Elite Athletes Assistance Programme which treats with the athletes in the top 40 in the world ranking in their respective disciplines.

The Ministry of Sports and its state entity SporTT, have provided financial assistance to athletes through their governing bodies, and directly to athletes to the tune of over $150 million dollars fiscal 2015/2016 to date.”

Williams told the media that for 15 NGBs, the SporTT has provided financial and technical support, as well as support for athletes to gain free access to facilities to train. “Since 2015 to the end of July 2021 we would have contributed #124 million for 15 NGBs for multiple Games leading up to 2020. Outside of that, we provided elite services such as physiotherapy, strength and conditioning and nutrition etc. We also provided technical support in the area of coaching.

Keshorn Walcott coaching amounted to over $2.8 million over the last five years,” Williams explained.